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The Joe Rogan Experience
The Joe Rogan Experience

#2414 - Brian Simpson

November 19, 2025 • 2h 26m

Summary

⏱️ 12 min read

Overview

Joe Rogan and Bryan Simpson have a wide-ranging conversation covering UFC fights, comedy, cult leaders, conspiracy theories, and food. They discuss Islam Makhachev's dominant UFC performance, the challenges of maintaining discipline as a comedian, controversies surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files and government transparency, historical events like the Tulsa Race Massacre and Waco siege, and Austin's incredible food scene. The conversation moves fluidly between serious topics like political corruption and lighter subjects like favorite restaurants and fast food quality.

UFC Discussion: Islam Makhachev's Dominance

The episode opens with Joe and Bryan discussing Islam Makhachev's impressive victory at UFC where he moved up a weight class from 155 to 170 pounds and dominated every round. They compare him to his mentor Khabib, noting Islam has better stand-up striking while Khabib was more focused on ground control. The conversation explores the intense training culture of Dagestani fighters who pray five times daily, avoid vices, and train with unmatched intensity. They also touch on the importance of altitude training for fighters, discussing how Fabricio Werdum prepared for months at high elevation before beating Cain Velasquez in Mexico City.

  • Islam Makhachev moved up from 155 to 170 pounds and dominated, with most title defenses at 155 ever
  • Islam has better stand-up striking than Khabib, who was more focused on ground control
  • Dagestani fighters train with extreme discipline - praying five times daily, no gambling, drinking, or partying
  • Bilal Muhammad trained in Dagestan and said he thought he trained hard until he experienced their intensity
  • Fabricio Werdum trained at 12,000 feet elevation for two months before beating Cain Velasquez in Mexico City
" I thought I trained hard. I really did. I thought I trained hard until I trained with those guys. "
" Khabib said, you're going to be better than me. "

Comedy Career Challenges and Self-Discipline

The conversation shifts to the difficulties of maintaining discipline when you're your own boss. Bryan shares his struggle with weight loss and self-motivation, joking about needing to drop his hypothetical son off in Dagestan for training. They discuss David Goggins' extreme discipline and how his intensity would be too much for most people. The exchange covers the carnivore diet Bryan tried, losing 10 pounds in a month, and Joe's philosophy about needing real discipline for diet success rather than gym work alone.

  • When you're your own boss, you can't also be a shitty employee to yourself
  • Bryan lost 10 pounds doing carnivore diet for a month
  • The real way to lose weight is through diet, not just gym work
  • David Goggins could sell a motivational app that just calls you a bitch every morning
  • Jesse Itzler lived with David Goggins and wrote a book about the intense training experience
" When you're your own boss, you can't also be a shitty employee. You know? Like, I'm the one setting the rules, but I'm also the one enforcing the rules, and I'm like, you good. "
" David Goggins could definitely sell an app, just a motivational app. Just call you a bitch every morning. "

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